This is In conjunction with the Siyyum on Masechet Ta'anit, I will say a D’var Torah connecting:
The 3rd to last Mishna in Ta’anit WITH The Final Mishna in Ta'anit.
Background:
Ta'anit Chapter 4 Mishna 6 lists 5 catasrophes that occured on the 17th of Tammuz and 5 catastrophes that occured on the 9th of Av:
TA'ANIT: CHAPTER 4: MISHNAH 6
Five things befell our ancestors on the seventeenth of Tammuz, and five on the ninth of Av. On the seventeenth of Tammuz the Tablets were broken and the tamid ceased, and the city was breached, and Apostomos burned the Torah and placed an idol in the sanctuary. On the ninth of Av it was decreed against our ancestors that they would not enter the Land, and the Temple was destroyed the first time and the second time, and Betar was taken, and the city was ploughed up. When Av enters they reduced rejoicing.
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Mishna 8 lists the 2 most joyous occasions are the 1 5th of Av and Yom Kippur - i.e. the 10th of Tishrei?
TA'ANIT: CHAPTER 4: MISHNAH 8
Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said, There were no holidays for Israel as the fifteenth of Av and as Yom Kippur, for on them the daughters of Jerusalem go forth in borrowed white garments, so as not to embarrass whoever does not have; all the garments require immersion. And the daughters of Jerusalem go forth and dance in the vineyards. And what would they say? "Young man, lift up your eyes and see, what you choose for yourself. Do not set your eyes on beauty, set your eyes on the family: 'Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman that fears the Lord, she shall be praised' (Prov. 31:30), and it says, 'Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates' (ibid., v. 31)." And similarly it says, "Go forth, O you daughters of Zion, and gaze upon King Solomon [ha-Melekh Shelomo], even upon the crown with which his mother has crowned him on his wedding day, and on the day of the gladness of his heart" (Cant. 3:11). "His wedding day" is the giving of the Torah, "on the day of the gladness of his heart" is the building of the Temple, may it be built speedily in our days. Amen.
Questions:
1. How is it that the 15th of Av and the 10th of Tishrei the most joyous of occasions. Aren't Holidays such as Purim and Sukkot even more joyous?
2. What is the connection between these 2 dates in Mishna 6 - Namely the 17th of Tammuz and the 0th of Av - with the 2 dates in Mishna 4 - namely the 10th of Tishrei and the 15th of Av?
3. Furthermore, what is the connection between the 2 catastrophes in the "Wilderness Generation"
Answers:
a the 2 catastrophes are:
1. The worship of the Golden Calf.
2. The Sin of the Spies leading to the Death Decree for the Wilderness Generation.
Regarding Question #2 the events are:
1. The final forgiveness for the Sin of the Golden Calf culminated with the reception of the 2nd tablets.
2. The discovery that the death decree had been completed and no longer would anyone die from that decree.
Thus, the juxta-position is no mere co-incidence. Rather, the catastrophes that instituted the 17th of Tammuz and 9th of Av as days of Mourning for all generations, were originally forgiven on Yom Kippur and the 15th of Av respectively. Therefore, these are days of "original forgiveness!" Thus, the joy of 10 Tishrei & 15 Av - at least in terms of Masechet Ta'anit - ARE THE greatest Joys.
In the merit of completing this Traractate - may we Merit the Final Redemption
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Mishna 8 lists the 2 most joyous occasions are the 1 5th of Av and Yom Kippur - i.e. the 10th of Tishrei?
TA'ANIT: CHAPTER 4: MISHNAH 8
Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said, There were no holidays for Israel as the fifteenth of Av and as Yom Kippur, for on them the daughters of Jerusalem go forth in borrowed white garments, so as not to embarrass whoever does not have; all the garments require immersion. And the daughters of Jerusalem go forth and dance in the vineyards. And what would they say? "Young man, lift up your eyes and see, what you choose for yourself. Do not set your eyes on beauty, set your eyes on the family: 'Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman that fears the Lord, she shall be praised' (Prov. 31:30), and it says, 'Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates' (ibid., v. 31)." And similarly it says, "Go forth, O you daughters of Zion, and gaze upon King Solomon [ha-Melekh Shelomo], even upon the crown with which his mother has crowned him on his wedding day, and on the day of the gladness of his heart" (Cant. 3:11). "His wedding day" is the giving of the Torah, "on the day of the gladness of his heart" is the building of the Temple, may it be built speedily in our days. Amen.
Questions:
1. How is it that the 15th of Av and the 10th of Tishrei the most joyous of occasions. Aren't Holidays such as Purim and Sukkot even more joyous?
2. What is the connection between these 2 dates in Mishna 6 - Namely the 17th of Tammuz and the 0th of Av - with the 2 dates in Mishna 4 - namely the 10th of Tishrei and the 15th of Av?
3. Furthermore, what is the connection between the 2 catastrophes in the "Wilderness Generation"
Answers:
a the 2 catastrophes are:
1. The worship of the Golden Calf.
2. The Sin of the Spies leading to the Death Decree for the Wilderness Generation.
Regarding Question #2 the events are:
1. The final forgiveness for the Sin of the Golden Calf culminated with the reception of the 2nd tablets.
2. The discovery that the death decree had been completed and no longer would anyone die from that decree.
Thus, the juxta-position is no mere co-incidence. Rather, the catastrophes that instituted the 17th of Tammuz and 9th of Av as days of Mourning for all generations, were originally forgiven on Yom Kippur and the 15th of Av respectively. Therefore, these are days of "original forgiveness!" Thus, the joy of 10 Tishrei & 15 Av - at least in terms of Masechet Ta'anit - ARE THE greatest Joys.
In the merit of completing this Traractate - may we Merit the Final Redemption
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